Igbo (Nigeria)

From School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up--Three more entries in a series that combines history and anthropology to provide portraits of African ethnic groups over time. The Igbo are the largest group so far treated in the series and one of the three most important ethnic groups in Nigeria. Ogbaa, himself Igbo, is particularly strong in explaining their beliefs and worldview and how these are reflected in their way of life. Much of his writing is rather abstract for the intended audience, however, and the history often becomes confusing, with a few statements being seriously misleading. Wangari's account is exceptional for her fine, concrete explanations of changes caused by colonial rule that continued with independence: the humiliation of the Ameru surrender to the British; the way that taxation forced men into low status work for cash; and more. Zeleza's book is particularly valuable in showing that African ``ethnic groups'' are not static entities, with the Mijikenda being made up of nine distinct, independent peoples, and some Mijikenda having moved to Mombasa and become Swahili. Also she clearly describes social changes decades before colonial rule due to increased trade, and changes under the independent Kenyan government. While the illustrations in all three books are generally good, none of the maps adequately reflects the textual material. Also, readers would be better served by bibliographies than by the lists of difficult-to-locate ``Further Reading.''--Loretta Kreider Andrews, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MDCopyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


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Gr 5 Up-Three more entries in a series that combines history and anthropology to provide portraits of African ethnic groups over time. The Igbo are the largest group so far treated in the series and one of the three most important ethnic groups in Nigeria. Ogbaa, himself Igbo, is particularly strong in explaining their beliefs and worldview and how these are reflected in their way of life. Much of his writing is rather abstract for the intended audience, however, and the history often becomes confusing, with a few statements being seriously misleading. Wangari's account is exceptional for her fine, concrete explanations of changes caused by colonial rule that continued with independence: the humiliation of the Ameru surrender to the British; the way that taxation forced men into low status work for cash; and more. Zeleza's book is particularly valuable in showing that African ``ethnic groups'' are not static entities, with the Mijikenda being made up of nine distinct, independent peoples, and some Mijikenda having moved to Mombasa and become Swahili. Also she clearly describes social changes decades before colonial rule due to increased trade, and changes under the independent Kenyan government. While the illustrations in all three books are generally good, none of the maps adequately reflects the textual material. Also, readers would be better served by bibliographies than by the lists of difficult-to-locate ``Further Reading.''-Loretta Kreider Andrews, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD


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